News

10/08/2015

Mid and West Wales Fire & Rescue Service Issue Warning to Road Users Following Series of Serious Road Collisions Across Mid and West Wales.

Firefighters from Crickhowell and Brecon were called to a serious road traffic collision involving a car and a campervan on the A40 near Bwlch in Brecon on Sunday (9th August) which closed the road for several hours. Firefighters needed hydraulic cutting equipment to release one of the passengers who was treated by ambulance crews at the scene.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Road Safety WarningOn Saturday (8th August), fire crews from Brecon and Talgarth were called to another road traffic collision on the A470 near Felinfach, Brecon. This incident involving two private motor vehicles, one of which was towing a caravan, also closed the road for a substantial period of time. Firefighters again needed to use hydraulic cutting equipment to release a seriously injured passenger, who after receiving first aid from firefighters was airlifted to hospital by air ambulance.

Neil Evans, Mid and West Wales Fire & Rescue Service Road Safety Manager said: “We are seeing too many deaths and injuries on our roads this summer. We need you as road users to assist us in reducing these deaths and injuries. Don’t become a statistic yourself.”

“With the summer holidays upon us, people are not only going about their daily business but also travelling to and from festivals, sporting events and leisure trips. The mix of different vehicles and road users has increased.”

“We now have heavy goods vehicles, cars, vintage cars, caravans, camper vans, scooters, motorcyclists, cyclists, tractors and farm machinery. All these vehicles react differently on our roads. They speed up and slow down at different rates. They use less and more of the road in various situations.”

“As this is a typical British summer, we have had rain showers following hot spells which causes the roads to become greasy. Please take care and allow a greater stopping distance between you and the vehicle in front, and always reduce your speed in these conditions.”

“Drive safely and think about what maybe around the corner or ahead. Think once, think twice, think bike.”

“Make sure your vehicle is in good working order, including the headlights, brake lights, indicators, screen wash, wipers. Make sure you have good visibility, and keep your windscreen and visor clean at all times.”

“Our message to all road users is drive to arrive. Drive for others. Better to arrive late than not at all.”